Ladies, Gents,
I was looking at some guides for games on eBay and a thought that often occurs resurfaced - Are Video Game Strategy Guides Redundant these days?
There is a lot to talk about on this debate, me personally as much as I wish to continue getting them I question their value. Of course, all the information you need is online, that's a given these days but I still like the idea of buying a Hardback companion guide with the latest BIG game - For me that is usually the next big JRPG.
However, the biggest hurdle I find now is that with the modern era of DLC, a lot of these guides can't cover the post release content - As they're release on the date of the original title. This is where I feel troubled, as I did with Final Fantasy XV. I've always bought the latest FF game with the premium Hardback Piggyback guide, I did with FFXV also and it served well for certain moments - Like the location of the Tombs for the Royal Arms. But with the Season Pass content, Extra events & even a 2nd Season Pass on the way, I just feel like the book is redundant - Paying £15-25 Which gets outdated within 6 months to a year is not a compelling proposition. If Kingdom Hearts III offers a guide I might skip on it this time round, which is a shame as I do like to have them upon my initial playthrough but if their lasting value is limited I can't quite commit to it.
But I find hunting older game guides satisfies my collector/gamer need - I really want to get Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep's guide to have all the item/command melding varities on a chart at hand. As with this game I had to have 3 or 4 seperate links saved to get this information which was pretty important. It's just more fulfilling to know that these guides content all the content and information I need for the experience.
But I was curious to see others perspective on this matter - Do you buy guides - if so are they for modern games?